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Nastia Liukin's New Poolside Bikini Photo Is Deemed 'Concerning'
By Alisan Duran on May 23, 2024 at 6:30 AM EDT
Renowned gymnast Nastia Liukin recently caused concern among her fans after sharing a series of Instagram photos, with one showcasing her figure in skimpy swimwear.
Nastia Liukin Sparks Weight Concerns
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The five-time Olympic medalist posed confidently by the pool in a picture, modeling stylish swimwear featuring a striking orange hue with checkered straps.
However, despite the playful nature of the post, many fans expressed their worries about her health in the comments.
Enjoying The Sunshine In A Bikini
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The Russian-born sensation stood poolside, striking a side-angle pose with her arms raised, holding her blonde locks in a ponytail-like manner.
In the caption, Liukin, 34, revealed her location as "Dallas, Texas: where it's 95 and sunny one day & tornado watches and flash floods the next."
Fans React To The Poolside Picture
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Comments have been pouring in from fans, expressing a mix of admiration and concern. Many praised Liukin for her stunning look and athletic physique, highlighting her confidence and beauty. However, a significant number of followers also voiced their worries about her health.
"I was trying to not be concerned before but I am genuinely, genuinely concerned. And the young eyes that look up to you seeing this," one person wrote.
Another follower described the snapshot as "concerning," while a different user told the gymnast-turned-influencer, "I hope you are treating yourself well."
The fourth commenter added, "So sad for all the young girls seeing this."
Looking 'Too Skinny' In A Selfie
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This isn't the first time Nastia has faced scrutiny over her weight. In 2020, she made headlines for addressing accusations of anorexia and clapping back at body-shaming critics.
At the time, Liukin took to Instagram to share a distasteful DM she received, which body-shamed her for being "too skinny."
The message, sent in response to a mirror selfie she posted after a Pilates workout, accused her of "promoting borderline anorexia-looking bodies."
Nastia Liukin Fights Back At Online Troll
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Liukin, known for her advocacy against body shaming, used the incident to address the harmful impacts of such comments, emphasizing the importance of promoting a positive body image and standing up against online bullying.
Rather than responding to the troll privately, Liukin took the opportunity to share a screenshot of the DM to her Instagram feed, using her platform to highlight the issue. She explained how detrimental this kind of scrutiny can be to one's mental health, stressing the importance of kindness and understanding.
"This week I got a DM that really triggered me in so many ways," Liukin wrote alongside the post. "It made me feel: defeated, pissed, sad, annoyed, confused, shocked, and many other feelings. If taking pictures of my OWN body — a body that won me many Olympic medals, a body that I push each day to get stronger, a body that God gave me — is inherently promoting anorexia, then honestly, we've gotten to a place in the world where just BEING is offensive."